Brock Purdy could solve Kyle Shanahan's bad luck at QB

Brock Purdy started Sunday after filling in for Garoppolo for the majority of last Sunday's 33-17 win over Miami. For the first time during Shanahan's tenure in the Bay Area, the 49ers' aren't playing with fools' gold without Garoppolo. 

Shanahan is 48-46 in seven seasons as San Francisco's head coach. In games started by Garoppolo, he has a glistening record of 38-17. In starts by all other QBs, Shanahan's record is a dull 10-29. Instead of that discrepancy growing against Tampa Bay, Purdy shortened the gap in a 35-7 drubbing.

He was 16-of-21 for 185 yards with three total touchdowns.

His first came when he escaped a strong pass rush from defensive end Carl Nassib and took off for a two-yard touchdown.

He threw his first touchdown pass on a 27-yard dime to Christian McCaffrey. 

His final touchdown came on an underthrow, but Brandon Aiyuk stayed behind the defense and reached the end zone on the 32-yard touchdown right before halftime.

Per Oddschecker, the 49ers have the fifth-best odds of winning the Super Bowl. Their odds were +1100 after Garoppolo's injury and shortened to +900 following Sunday's dominant victory.

It speaks to Purdy's play that the team is in still in the conversation without Garoppolo. In previous seasons, his absence ended the 49ers' championship aspirations.

San Francisco trails the Bills, Eagles, Chiefs and Cowboys in Super Bowl odds, and all would be safer bets than backing a team led by rookie. No first-year QB has ever won a Super Bowl.

Then again, no backup QB looked as good operating the 49ers' offense as Purdy did on Sunday. 

There's a first time for everything.